The 2026 FIFA Soccer World Cup will, for the first time in history, be hosted by three countries, United States of America, Canada and Mexico with an increased number of nations (48) participating. The sad thing though is that the ticket prices have increased by what some suggest is a staggering 1000% compared to the 2022 version. This is going to be the most ridiculously expensive Soccer World Cup ever. A shocking disgrace!
FIFA is abusing the authority that they have over national associations, especially those that are not so well to do economically, who will not question the former. FIFA claims to be increasing its financial support for these associations while ballooning its bank account blocking their citizenry from fairly participating. Ridiculous.
The truth is that Gianni Infantinno and FIFA are stealing the rights of millions of people worldwide to watch this tournament in person, reserving such opportunities for the rich – whether that is the plan or the unfortunate outcome is immaterial. A nightmare sounds better than this. You can always wake up and recharge yourself after a bad dream. Unfortunately, this is true. It is simply unacceptable.
A GAME THAT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE
What makes this difficult to fathom is that football was conceived by ordinary people. History dictates that.
Also known as soccer, football’s rich history spans thousands of years. Games similar to football, such as Cuju (with 12 to 16 players per team) in China, were played as early as 2 BC. Modern football began to take shape in Britain in the mid-19th century, with the establishment of the Football Association in England in 1863. The first official rules were published that year, standardising the game and paving the way for its global spread. Today, football is one of the most popular sports globally, with professional leagues and tournaments in each country, including the FIFA World Cup, captivating audiences internationally. A world cup is a game of competition between all nations of the world. The audience is the people of the world. It’s organisation has to be as inclusive as possible be the game today belongs to all humanity.
PLAYING IN THE STREETS AND BACKYARDS
From birth, we owned football. The one game I have memories of as a toddler is football. I’m told that my father used to play tennis and rugby but the one memory that is sharp in my mind is kicking what may have been a tennis ball all over the house and yard with my younger brother, who was just over a year younger than me. In fact, if we’re running short of supply of round playing objects we would even kick rugby balls around. Indeed, growing up, we were introduced to a game of billions.
We used to play it in the streets and backyards, no matter what the conditions were like. Owning soccer boots was secondary. What was primary was playing the game. I still possess some scars all over my body that I am proud of because I got them while playing this game of the people under some of the most demanding conditions.
If we were lucky enough to get an inflated plastic ball, we would use it until it lost the inflation and seemed ready to throw away. Instead of throwing it away, we would reinflate it with various materials that had been thrown away. Those included plastics, papers, old socks, old clothing, old wigs, and many other soft things that you can imagine. We built our goalposts using sticks and stones.
So football also belongs to young boys as well who would die to get a chance to see the celebrates football stars play. I have also observed tremendous growth of the sport amongst young girls and women who I believe would share the same sentiment.
THE WORLD WILL CONVERGE
Soccer is one of those games that defy categorisations in the human spectrum. Soccer defies racism and various other forms of classism. Some, if not most, of the greatest athletes in this sport came from uninspiring social conditions, economically deprived races and populations. For example, Pele, Neymar, Eto’o, etc.
But how far have we gone in keeping this game as one that is owned by all people, irrespective of economic status? The answer to that question is becoming a lot more debatable.
Africa has received a bigger representation in the tournament with 9 teams and a 10th hopeful. Africa’s representatives for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are set to shine on this global stage. The continent’s football prowess will be on full display as nations like Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Algeria, South Africa, Tunisia, and Ghana join forces with newcomers like Cape Verde. As the world’s biggest stage awaits, African teams are ready to put on a show. With their passionate fans, talented players and experienced coaches, they are supposed to make a lasting impression through this tournament.
But will the African teams be able to fill their seats with their passionate fans? Maybe they will – but that can only happen if FIFA makes this tournament inclusive.
SERVANT TO SOME, CLASSISM TO OTHERS
The first match in the United States costs between $560 (R9,700) and $2,235 (R38,700). The cheapest ticket for the final costs $2,030 (R35,150) and the most expensive is $6,370 (R110,300). Those are staggering figures. This consideration excludes flight costs, accommodation, catering and other expenses that each fan has to put up with. It’s clear that this tournament is not for the shallow pocketed.
FIFA pockets 30% from each sale. For example, from a $2,600 (R45,295) ticket, $780 (R13,563) goes to FIFA. FIFA is monetising emotions and abusing people’s levels of desperation to support their teams. How do they expect to be viewed after making a people’s game expensive and elitist?
Francis Bacon said “Money can be a great servant, but a bad master.” Money can be a powerful tool when obtained and managed wisely, but when it becomes an obsession, it can lead to trouble. If FIFA were to balance their revenue generation with fair ticket pricing ensuring an inclusive approach would, indeed, lead to a positive outcome that would satisfy society generally. However, the approach that FIFA has taken prioritises profit making over the sport’s global reach.
IS AFRICA PART OF THE GLOBE?
The current episodes may work out negatively for Africa. It seems that money will dictate the race, class and economic status of those who will fill those stands as fans. There is also a chance for empty stands, even though FIFA speaks of possibilities of lowering the prices depending on demand, especially with less famous teams whose fans may struggle to live up to the demands of this World Cup. The implications are clear – this World Cup is shaping up to be a game played by all classes but for the physical attendance of the rich.
These ticket prices obviously may limit accessibility for many African fans, potentially pricing out a significant portion of the continent’s enthusiastic supporters. This could lead to limited representation of African fans at the tournament, which might impact on the overall atmosphere and cultural diversity of the event. African fans often go to great lengths to support their teams and their absence will be felt. The atmosphere, which is such an integral part of the World Cup experience, may suffer as a result. Imagine a game with South Africa but without the vuvuzela-blowing South African fans. The high ticket prices will undoubtedly limit accessibility for many fans, forcing them to watch the tournament from the comfort of their own homes.
FIFA must do the right thing or history will assess the current leadership, weigh their actions and inactions and possibly classify them as one of the most oppressive and supremacist authorities to ever run the game of soccer.
IS SOCCER STILL A GAME OF BILLIONS?
Gianni Infantinno is known to have previously said, “Football is a game that transcends all borders and cultures”. That statement is enough to convince even doubting Thomases about the meaning of football to all citizens of the world. Is FIFA not stealing an opportunity that belongs to all of humanity? What is the point of increasing the number of African representatives (from 5 to 9 teams and possibly 10) when you are reducing the capacity of their fans to participate?
FIFA is greedy using the name of the game to make exhorbitant profits. With a tournament that will be playing the most number of games in history they still charge astronomical amounts. All right thinking people applauded FIFA for their decision to keep an apartheid ran South Africa isolated from international football. Why would the same FIFA facilitate the exclusion of most south African fans from participating in a soccer world cup that their team has, through hard work and toil qualified for? Is this a Gianni Infantinno way of isolating Africa? What justification do they have to use Africa’s economic status to facilitate the continent’s exclusion. It is as though FIFA is saying that all that they’re interested in is the talent that Africa produces on the pitch and not the passion from the fans.
A lot more needs to be done to ensure that the beautiful game remains inclusive and accessible to fans from the various walks of life, regardless of their geographical location or financial means. As the tournament approaches, fans and critics alike will be watching to see how this plays out.
One thing is certain, the 2026 FIFA Soccer World Cup will be a tournament like no other. The question is – will it be a celebration of the beautiful game or a showcase of wealth and privilege?
I’ll listen on the radio.
Nitukuona ri.